guns

The Oklahoma attorney general has issued an opinion that out-of-state handgun licenses obtained by Oklahomans online are as valid as Oklahoma-issued handgun licenses, even if the other state has more lenient requirements.

The opinion, released Friday, states that Oklahoma residents with a “non-resident” handgun license from another state, such as Virginia, and Utah, are as valid as Oklahoma's concealed handgun license.

Shortly after noon Friday, the Oklahoma Senate adjourned sine die. At the same time, members of the House entered the third hour of questions on the $6.8 billion budget bill to fund state government for the 2017 fiscal year that begins July 1.

A loophole in Oklahoma law allows individuals to obtain a valid handgun license without ever firing a practice shot or picking up a gun.

Scores of Oklahomans have avoided the state’s requirement to take live firearm training with a licensed instructor in order to obtain a license to carry a concealed or visible handgun. The applicants instead apply for a license in a state such as Virginia that requires the applicant only to take an online quiz and pass a background check, which Oklahoma also requires. Oklahoma recognizes licenses granted in other states.

A recently filed bill would allow state gun owners to own firearms made and kept in Oklahoma without registering them with the federal government.

SB0010 was filed by Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid. It would create the Firearms Manufacturer Relocation to Oklahoma Act, which would exempt guns made and sold in the state from any federal law, taxation or regulation under the authority of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

The bill also states that certain materials imported into the state for the manufacturing of firearms or firearm accessories to not make those firearms subject to federal regulation.

Anderson said the purpose of his bill is to appeal to gun makers nationally and attract their businesses into the local economy.

“The primary goal is to say, ‘Come to Oklahoma,’” Anderson said. “Oklahoma’s a gun friendly state and we’d love to have their businesses and employees here in Oklahoma.”

Johnson said Wednesday the regents expect a “fairly active interim,” and will consider a joint interim study authored by Rep. John Enns, R-Waukomis, and Sens. AJ Griffin, R-Guthrie and Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, about concealed carry on college and university campuses.

It's an hour before suppertime, and the line outside Lone Oak First Baptist Church in Paducah, Ky., is wrapped around the building. The people are waiting for more than a Bible sermon; there's a raffle tonight. Twenty-five guns are up for grabs.

There's nothing new about gun raffles in Kentucky, even at a church. Last year, there were 50 events like this one in the state. The Kentucky Baptist Convention says it's a surefire way to get new people through church doors.

A Democratic state representative from northeast Oklahoma City says he's canceled plans for a study of the state's gun laws because several gun rights groups declined to participate.

State Rep. Mike Shelton says he planned to host an interim legislative study on Tuesday to look at both the state's open carry law, which allows licensed adults to openly display a handgun, and the "Stand Your Ground" law that allows the use of deadly force.

A Democratic lawmaker from Oklahoma City says he intends to convene an interim study in the fall to conduct a review of the state's so-called "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law and open carry laws.

Rep. Mike Shelton said Wednesday he wants to bring together members from law enforcement, the mental health community and others to examine if Oklahoma firearms laws "best suit our needs and our situation."

Based on Florida's law, Oklahoma's "Stand Your Ground" law essentially allows law abiding citizens who are attacked in public to use deadly force if they feel threatened.

A new rifle goes on sale on Wednesday, and it's not like any other. It uses lasers and computers to make shooters very accurate. A startup gun company in Texas developed the rifle, which is so effective that some in the shooting community say it should not be sold to the public.

UPDATE: Oklahoma's two U.S. Senators split over Thursday's vote to begin debate on a bipartisan gun control bill. Sen. Tom Coburn was one of 16 Republicans voting to debate the legislation. Sen. Jim Inhofe voted with other GOP members to block debate.

Coburn told a town hall recently in Oklahoma City he was interested in finding a way to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, but was concerned about keeping any data from turning into a firearm registry.

The chairman of the Senate Education Committee says he doesn't plan to grant a hearing to a bill that would give school districts the option of allowing armed teachers in public school classrooms.

Bartlesville Republican Sen. John Ford told The Associated Press on Monday he has no plans to hear the bill in his committee this session. This week is the deadline for the bill to be granted a Senate committee hearing. The bill could still be reassigned to another committee, but Ford says he doesn't expect that will happen.